Machine for folding and closing liner bags in cartons



Jan. 10, 1956 F. M. WILLBRANDT 2,729,923

MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING LINER BAGS IN CARTONS Filed Jan. 15, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 10, 1956 F. M. WILLBRANDT 2,729,928

MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING LINER BAGS IN CARTONS Filed Jan. 15, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 III &

3 IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 10, 1956 2,729,928

MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING LINER BAGS IN CARTONS F. M. WILLBRANDT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 15, 1953 Jan. 10, 1956 F. M. WILLBRANDT MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING LINER BAGS IN CARTONS Filed Jan. 15, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent'O MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING LINER BAGS IN CARTONS Franklin M. Willbrandt, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to Battle Creek Packaging Machines, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Application January 15, 1953, Serial No. 331,345

13 Claims. (Cl. 53--144) This invention relates to improvements in a machine for folding and closing liner bags in cartons.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a novel machine which will form a bellows fold in the protuding end of the liner bag of a carton and thereafter seal the protuding end in a reversely folded crimped closure which is the same length as the length of the mouth of the carton so that the closure can be tucked into the carton.

Second, to provide a machine for automatically folding and closing liner bags in cartons with a bellows fold in the ends of the closure so that no portion of the folded closure projects beyond the ends of the mouth of the carton.

Third, to provide a machine that will form a bellows fold closure in the end of a liner bag without breaking the joint or seam in the bag forming materials.

Fourth, to provide means for forming a sealed closure on the end of a liner bag which closure is tightly sealed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings of which there are four sheets illustrate a highly practical form of the invention.

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of the mechanism for forming the bellows fold in the ends of the liner he s.

ig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the fold forming structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the the fold forming elements in an initial stage of the fold forming operation.

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fold forming elements in a later stage of the fold forming operation. it

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the fold sealing structure inoperative relationwith respect to a liner bag folded by the mechanism shown in Figs 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view through the sealing structure shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View of end folding and crimping mechanism arranged to operate on the sealed ends of bags subsequent to the sealing thereof by the sealing mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 9-9 in Fig. 8 and illustrating the operation of the end folding apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a carton with a liner bag therein folded and sealed by the apparatus shown in the other figures of the drawings.

The machine described herein is designed primarly for use in folding and sealing the inner wax paper liner bags used in cartons of dry cereals. The apparatus is efiective to tightly seal the liner bags in such a fashion that they can be tucked. into the cartons in acornpletely air 2,729,923 Patented Jan. 10, 1956 ICC tight condition without breaking the seams which form the liner bags. Obviously the machine may be used to fold and seal liner bags in other types of cartons.

The drawings illustrate a machine having suitable supporting frame elements that are indicated by the numeral 1. The particular construction of the frame members is of no consequence to the present invention and so will not be described in detail. The machine includes a carton conveyor way 2 and flights 3 for continuously advancing a series of paper cartons 4 from a filling station not illustrated. The cartons arrive at the liner folding station as illustrated with the side flaps 5 and end flaps 6 of the cartons in generally erect position. The tops of the bags 7 project over the flaps 5 and 6 and are in generally rectangular tubular form.

Positioned alongside of the conveyor 2 is a stationary frame work 8 that is generally oval in horizontal outline. The frame work supports a conveyor chain 9 that rotates in a horizontal plane alongside of the conveyor way 2. One of the sprockets for supporting and directing the chain 9 is indicated at 10. The chain 9 is provided at spaced intervals with brackets 11 that are connected by the bolts 12 with upright slide forming plates 13. The inner or back sides of the slide forming plates 13 are supported against the vertical sides of the stationary frame work 8 and are advanced therearound by the chain 9 and the brackets 11.

The slide forming plates 13 have vertical slideways 14 formed therein in which upper slide members 15 and lower slide members 16 are arranged to reciprocate. The upper slide members 15 have rearwardly projecting rollers 17 secured thereto and disposed to travel along a cam slot 18 formed around the upper edge of the stationary frame work 8. The lower slide members 16 have rearwardly projecting rollers 19 secured thereto and positioned in a lower cam slot 20 formed around the lower edge of the stationary frame work. The upper slide members 15 project over the conveyor way 2 to advance in timed relationship with the cartons. Depending spreader elements 21 secured to the upper slide members have arrow shaped noses 22 on their lower ends that are adapted to enter the upper ends of the liner bags and spread the bags transversely of the ends of the cartons as is best illustrated in Fig. 4. Transverse spreading of the mouths of the bags obviously pulls the longitudinal ends thereof inwardly from the end walls of the cartons. I

The lower slide members 16 are generally U-shaped on their outer ends to straddle the spreader element 21 as sociated therewith and depending fingers 23 are secured to each branch of the lower slide members. The lower ends of the fingers 23 are tapered or inclined downwardly and outwardly from each other as at 24 to cammingly engage the ends of the mouth of the bag where the bag is deflected inwardly of the carton by the spreader nose 22. The fingers 23 start a bellows fold in the ends of the mouth of the bag and prevent the ends of the mouth from returning to rectangular outline when the spreader nose is retracted. The action of the fingers is best illustrated in Fig. 5.

As is best illustrated in Fig. 3, the upper cam slot 18 which controls the upper slide members 15 and spreader noses 22 is provided with a downwardly inclined reach 25 that causes the spreader nose to descend while the lower slide 16 and fingers 23 are still elevated. After the nose 22 is lowered to spread the bag a downwardly inclined reach 26 in the lower cam slot 20 causes the lower slide and fingers 23 to descend as previously described. This places both the nose 22 and the fingers 23 in simultaneous engagement with the mouth of the liner bag. An upwardly inclined reach 27 in the upper cam slot 18 then retracts the upper slide member and the 3 spreader nose 22 after which an upwardly inclined reach 28 in the lower cam slot 20 retracts the fingers 23.

Positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor way 2 and approximately under the upwardly inclined reach 28 of the lower cam slot are a pair of pressure bars. 29 and 30. The pressure bars are adjustably mounted on arms 31 and reciprocating bars 32. Drive means enclosed in the housing 33 and driven by the chain 34 in timed relation to the carton conveyor and the chain 9 operate to ad,- vance one of the pressure bars against one side of the folded mouth of the bag. A similar driving structure located on the opposite side of the machine, and not illustrated, simultaneously reciprocates the other pressure bar 29. It will be noted that the pressure bars 29 and 30 se 9 oppos te sides of. e liner bag a the twe n 23 are, retracting so that the sides of the bag are crimped aga ns the bell s told that. was started by h fing s .23.. The reciprocating bars 32 and, the pressure bars 29and 30. may be given an oscillating movement having longitudinal component corresponding t advancing motion of the cartons or the bellows folded bags may slide between the pressure bars 29 and 30 with the pressure bars being yieldably pressed against the. bags by springs as is shown in Fig, 7. The pressure bar 29 carries an inwardly projecting earn finger 35 that cammingly engages the trailingend flap 6 of each carton while a corresponding cam finger 36 on the pressure, bar 30 engages and folds downwardly the leading end flap on the carton. The end flaps 6 of the cartons are initially pressed outwardly at an incline with respect to the carton by outwardly curved or inclined edges A on the ends of the fingers 23 so that the fingers 35 and 36 can engage and deflect the flaps. The side flaps 5 of the carton are engaged and pressed downwardly by plows 37 and, rods 38 as the carton is advanced to the pressure bars. Desirably the pressure bars are. provided with heating elements 39.

Aftereach liner bag is folded into the bellows fold and sealed by the pressure bars 29 and 30 the carton containing the bag is advanced between side plates 40 (see Fig. 8) and rails 41 that form a guide slot 42 receiving the upstanding bellows fold in they liner bag. As the bellows fold is advanced along the guide slot .42 a plow 43 folds the upper end of the bellows fold transversely and downwardly in a U-shaped fold as is best illustrated in Fig. 9. Upon emerging from the guide slot behind the. plow 43 the doubled bellows fold enters between the opposedv crimping wheels 44 and 45 and the wheels function to crimp the, doubled bellows fold in ver-. tically extending corrugations 46. Desirably one of the crimping wheels is provided: with a heater 47 so that the crimping wheels further seal the folded and, crimped end of the liner bag. The liner bag can then be folded into the earton and the carton closed by conventional structure.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for forming top folds in liner bags in open cartons comprising, a first conveyor adapted to adtract said first slides prior to retraction of the second slides associated therewith, opposed pressure bars reciprocable transversely of said first conveyor into compressing relation on opposite sides of a bag deflected by said fingers, means connected to reciprocate said bars in timed relation to said fingers to engage opposite sides of a bag immediately after retraction of the fingers from the bag engaged by the bars, means for heating one of said bars to seal the tops of said bags, a plate on each of said bars with an inner edge inclined downwardly and outwardly of said first conveyor to engage and depress end flaps on the containers in which the bags are held, side plates extending over said first conveyor behind said bars and forming a guide slot to receive the flattened ends of bags advanced from said bars, said side plates extending over the depressed position of the leading flaps on said containers as determined by the leading plate on said bars to hold the leading end. flaps depressed, plow means positioned over said guide slot and adapted to fold the sealed ends of said bags upon themselves, coacting' crimping wheels positioned on opposite sides of said bags behind said plow means to engage said bags and crimp and seal the folded ends thereof in vertically extending corrugations, and means for heating one of said wheels.

2. A machine for forming top folds in liner bags in open cartons comprising, a first conveyor adapted to advance cartons with open liner bags projecting therefrom, a second conveyor positioned to move in parallel equal timed relation to a reach of said first conveyor, means forming slideways carried by said second conveyor and registering with cartons on said first conveyor, 21 first slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways and having a triangular nose reciprocable into the end of a bag on said firstv conveyor to spread the bag transversely of said first conveyor, a second slide reciprocably carried by each of said. slideways for movement parallel to said first slides, fingers mounted on said second slides on longitudinally opposite ends of the first slides and having invance cartons with open liner bags projecting. therefrom, i

a second conveyor positioned to move in parallel equal timed relation to a reach of said first conveyor, means forming slideways carried by said second conveyor and registering'with cartons on said first conveyor, a first slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways and having a triangular nose reciprocable into the end of a bag on said first conveyor to spread the bag transversely of said first conveyor, a second slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways for movement parallel to said first slides, fingers mounted on said. second slides on longitudinally opposite ends of the first slides, and having incli'nedlower ends cammingly engageable with the outer surface of the end of a bag spread by said noses, means forming cam tracks extending along said second conveyor and engageable with said slides to advance said first slides and thereafter advance said second slides and reclin d lower ends cammingly engageable with the outer surface of the end of a bag spread by said noses, means forming cam tracks extending along said second conveyor and engageable with said slides to advance said first slides and thereafter advance said second slides and retract said first, slides prior to retraction of the second slides associated therewith, opposed pressure bars reciprocable transversely of said first conveyor into compressing relation on opposite sides of a bag deflected by said fingers, means connected to reciprocate said bars in timed relation to said fingers to engage opposite sides of a bag immediately after retraction of the fingers from the bag engaged by the bars, means for heating one of said bars to seal the tops of; said bags, a plate on each of said bars with an inner edge inclined downwardly and outwardly of said first. conveyor to engage and depress end flaps on the containers in which the bags are held, side plates extending over said first, conveyor behind said bars and forming a guide slot to receive the flattened ends of bags advanced from said bars, one of said side plates extending over the depressed position of the leading flaps on said containers as determined by the leading plate on said bars to hold the leading end flaps depressed, plow means positioned over said guide slot and adapted to fold the sealed ends of said bags upon themselves, coacting crimping wheels positioned on opposite sides of said bags behind said plow means to engage said bags and crimp and seal the folded ends thereof in vertically extending corrugations, and means for heating one of said wheels.

3. A machine for forming top folds in liner bags in open cartons comprising, a first conveyor adapted to advance cartons with open liner bags projecting therefrom, a second conveyor positioned to move in parallel equal timed relation to a reach of said first conveyor, means fo m g id ys. c ried. y s id second conveyo and registering with cartons on said first conveyor, 8. fiISt slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways and having a triangular nose reciprocable into the end of a bag on said first conveyor to spread the bag transversely of said first conveyor, a second slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways for movement parallel to said first slides, fingers mounted on said second slides on longitudinally opposite sides of the first slides and having inclined lower ends cammingly engageable with the outer surface of the end of abag spread by said noses, means forming cams positioned along said second conveyor and engageable with said slides to advance said first slides and thereafter advance said second slides and retract said first slides prior to retraction of the second slides associated therewith, opposed pressure members positioned on transversely opposite sides of said first conveyor and movable into compressing relation on opposite sides of a bag defiected by said fingers to form bellows folds at the ends of the mouth of the bag, means positioned behind said pressure members and forming a guide slot to receive the flattened ends of bags advanced from said pressure memhers, plow means positioned over said guide slot and adapted to fold the closed ends of said bags upon themselves, and coacting crimping means positioned on opposite sides of said bags behind said plow means to engage said bags and crimp the folded ends thereof in vertically extending corrugations.

4. A machine for forming top folds in liner bags in open cartons comprising, a first conveyor adapted to advance cartons with open liner bags projecting therefrom, a second conveyor positioned to move in parallel equal timed relation to a reach of said first conveyor, means forming slideways carried by said second conveyor and registering with cartons on said first conveyor, a first slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways and having a triangular nose reciprocable into the end of a bag on said first conveyor to spread the bag, a second slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways for movement parallel to said first slides, fingers mounted on said second slides on opposite sides of the first slides and having inclined lower ends cammingly engageable with the outer surface of the end of a bag spread by said noses, means forming cams positioned along said second conveyor and engageable with said slides to advance said first slides and thereafter advance said second slides and retract said first slides prior to retraction of the second slides associated therewith, opposed pressure members positioned on transversely opposite sides of said first conveyor and adapted to compress opposite sides of a bag deflected by said fingers to form bellows folds at the ends of the mouth of the bag, means positioned behind said pressure members and forming a guide slot to receive the flattened ends of bags advanced from said pressure members, plow means positioned over said guide slot and adapted to fold the closed ends of said bags upon themselves, and coacting crimping means positioned on opposite sides of said bags behind said plow means to engage said bags and crimp the folded ends thereof in vertically extending corrugations.

5. In combination with a machine having a conveyor for advancing open cartons with liner bags projecting upwardly therefrom in open condition, a bag folding head, means including a second conveyor for advancing said head in timed relation parallel to a bag on said first conveyor, 21 pair of slide elements reciprocable on said head longitudinally of said bag, a nose on a first of said slide elements reciprocable into and out of the end of said bag to spread the sides thereof transversely of said first conveyor, fingers carried by the second of said slide elements and disposed on opposite sides of said nose and over the longitudinal ends of said bag, said fingers having upwardly converging opposed edges reciprocable into folding engagement with the outer surface of the ends of said bag, cam means extending along said second conveyor engageable with said slide elements to first advance said first element and then advance said second element and then retract said elements in the same order,

pressure members rciprocable from opposite sides of said fingers into contact with opposite sides of said bag below said fingers prior to full retraction of said fingers from said bag to press the sides of said bag together with bellows folds in each end of the mouth thereof, and means positioned along said first conveyor behind said pressure members to fold the flattened and closed mouth of said bag downwardly upon itself.

6. In combination with a machine having a conveyor for advancing open cartons with liner bags projecting upwardly therefrom in open condition, a bag folding head, means for advancing said head in timed relation parallel to a bag on said first conveyor, 21 pair of slide elements reciprocable on said head longitudinally of said bag, a nose on a first of said slide elements reciprocable into and out of the end of said bag to spread the sides thereof, fingers carried by the second of said slide elements and disposed on opposite sides of said nose and over the longitudinal ends of said bag, said fingers having upwardly converging opposed edges reciprocable into folding engagement with the outer surface of the ends of said bag, cam means engageable with said slide elements to first advance said first element and then advance said second element and then retract said elements in the same order, pressure members reciprocable from opposite sides of said fingers into contact with opposite sides of said bag below said fingers to press the sides of said bag together with bellows folds in each end of the mouth thereof, and means positioned along said conveyor behind said pressure members to fold the flattened and closed mouth of said bag downwardly upon itself.

7. A machine for forming top folds in liner bags in open cartons comprising, a first conveyor adapted to advance cartons with open liner bags projecting therefrom, a second conveyor positioned to move in parallel equal timed relation to a reach of said first conveyor, means forming slideways carried by said second conveyor and registering with cartons on said first conveyor, a first slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways and having a triangular nose reciprocable into the end of a bag on said first conveyor to spread the bag, a second slide reciprocably carried by each of said slideways for movement parallel to said first slides, upwardly converging opposed edges on said second slides located on opposite sides of the noses cammingly engageable with the outer surface of the end of a bag spread by said noses, means forming cams spaced along said second conveyor and engageable with said slides to advance said first slides and thereafter advance said second slides and retract said first slides prior to retraction of the second slides associated therewith, opposed pressure means disposed transversely of said first conveyor to compress opposite sides of a bag deflected by said edges, means for heating one of said pressure means to seal the tops of said bags, means extending over said first conveyor behind said means for compressing the bag sides and forming a guide slot to receive the flattened ends of bags, plow means positioned over said guide slot and adapted to fold the sealed ends of said bags upon themselves, and coacting crimping means positioned on opposite sides of said bags behind said plow means to engage said bags and crimp the folded ends thereof.

8. In combination with a machine having a conveyor for advancing open cartons with liner bags projecting upwardly therefrom in open condition, a bag folding head, means including a second conveyor for advancing said head in timed relation over a bag on said first conveyor, a pair of slide elements reciprocable on said head longitudinally of said bag, a nose on a first of said slide elements reciprocable into and out of the end of said bag to spread the sides thereof, fingers carried by the second of said slide elements and disposed on opposite sides of said nose and over the ends of said bag, said fingers having upwardly converging opposed edges reciprocable into folding engagement with the outer surface of the ends of said bag to form reentrant bellows folds therein, cam means extending along said second conveyor engageable with said slide elements upon translation of said head to first advance said first element and then advance said second element and then retract said elements in the same order, and pressure members reciprocable from opposite sides of said first conveyor into contact with opposite sides of said bag and positioned along said first conveyor behind the advanced position of said fingers to press the sides of said bag together with bellows folds in each end of the mouth thereof.

9. In combination with a machine having a conveyor for advancing open cartons with liner bags projecting upwardly therefrom in open condition, a'bag folding head, means for advancing said head in timed relation over a bag on said first conveyor, a pair of slide elements reciprocable on said head longitudinally of said bag, a nose on a first of said slide elements reciprocabie into and out of the end of said bag to spread the sides thereof, fingers carried by the second of said slide elements and disposed on opposite sides of said nose at the ends of said bag, said fingers having upwardly converging opposed edges rcciprocable into folding engagement with the outer surface of the ends of said bag, means engageable with said slide elements during advancing motion of said head to first advance said first element and then advance said second element and then retract said elements in the same order, and pressure members reciprocable from opposite sides of said first conveyor into contact with opposite sides of said bag after said fingers have pressed the ends of the bag inwardly and operative to press the sides of said bag together with bellows folds in each end of the mouth thereof.

10. in combination with a machine having a conveyor for advancing open cartons with liner bags projecting up- Wardly therefrom in open condition, a bag folding head, means for advancing said head in timed relation over a bag on said first conveyor, a slide element reciprocable on said head longitudinally of said bag, fingers carried by said slide element and disposed at the ends of said bag, said fingers having upwardly converging opposed edges rcciprocable into folding engagement with the outer surface of the ends of said bag, means engageable with said slide element during advancing motion of said head to advance said element and then retract said element, and pressure members reciprocable from opposite sides of said first conveyor into contact with opposite sides of said bag after said fingers have pressed the ends of the bag inwardly and operative to press the sides of said bag together with bellows folds in each end of the mouth thereof.

ll. Liner bag folding and closing apparatus for a lined carton comprising, a spreader element rectilinearly reciprocable into the mouth of the bag and having a wedge shaped nose adapted to spread the bag transversely, a folding element rectilincarly reciprocable toward and iii away from the mouth of the bag and havingfingers with upwardly converging opposed edges fixedly carried by the foldingelernent and adapted to engage and press longitndinally inwardly on the longitudinal ends of themouth of the bag when the mouth is spread by said nose, drive means connected to first advance said nose and then said folding element and then retract the same in the same order, means including pressure members reciprocable from opposite sides of said fingers adapted to press the sides of the bag together with bellows folds in the ends of its mouth where said fingers press the walls of the bag inwardly, meansfor advancing lined cartons in continuous motion past said last means, and means connected to ad Vance said elementslongitudinally in timed relation to said carton advancing means ahead of said means for pressing the sides of the bag together.

p 12. Liner bag folding and closing apparatus for a lined carton comprising, a spreader element retilinearly reciprocable into the mouth of the bag and having a wedge shaped nose adapted to spread the bag transversely, a folding clement rectilinearly reciprocable toward and away from the mouth of the bag and having converging opposed edges fixedly carried by the folding element and adapted to engage and press longitudinally inwardly on the longitudinal ends of the mouth of the bag'when the mouth is spread by said nose, drive means connected to advance said nose and then said folding element and then retract the same in the same order, means adapted to press the sides of the bag together with bellows folds in the ends of its mouth where said fingers press the Walls of the bag inwardly, means for advancing lined cartons i continuous motion past said last means, and means connected to advance said elements longitudinally intimed relation to said carton advancing means ahead of said means for pressing the sides of the bag together.

13. Liner bag folding and closing apparatus for a lined carton comprising, a spreader clement reciprocable into the mouth of the bag and having a Wedge shaped nose adapted to spread the mouth of the bag in one plane, a folding element reciprocable toward and away from the mouth of the bag and having fingers with upwardly converging opposed edges fixedly carried by the folding element and adapted to engage and press inwardly on the mouth of the bag in a plane transverse to said first plane when the mouth is spread by said nose, drive means connected to first advance said nose and then said folding element and then retract the same, and means adapted to press the sides of bag together with bellows folds in the ends of its month where said fingers press the walls of the bag inwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,938,750 Litchfield Dec. 1 2, 1933 2,011,198 Morey i Aug. 13, 1 935 2,083,067 James June 8, 1937 

